New Delhi: In a bold and data-backed rebuttal to mounting criticism from Western nations over its continuing engagement with Russia, India has laid bare the double standards of global powers—particularly the European Union and the United States—by pointing to their ongoing, and in some cases expanding, trade ties with Moscow.
Indian officials, pushing back against what they termed as “selective outrage,” presented hard numbers that illustrate the glaring gap between Western rhetoric and reality.
According to official trade figures, the European Union’s bilateral trade in goods with Russia in 2024 stood at a staggering €67.5 billion, while its trade in services in 2023 amounted to €17.2 billion. This combined total far exceeds India’s total trade volume with Russia for the same period, contradicting the narrative that New Delhi’s economic engagement with Moscow is exceptional or problematic.
European dependence on Russian energy continues unabated despite public posturing. EU imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024, overtaking the previous high of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022. These figures underline Europe’s enduring reliance on Russian energy supplies, even as it urges others to cut ties.
But the engagement doesn’t end with energy. The EU continues to import a broad range of products from Russia, including fertilizers, chemicals, mining products, iron, steel, and heavy machinery. All of this happens in parallel with European leaders issuing statements condemning nations like India for maintaining “normal” trade relations with Moscow.
“The reality is far removed from the moral grandstanding we see in global forums,” said a senior Indian official familiar with the matter.
The United States, too, has not been immune to charges of hypocrisy. While it calls on partners to reduce ties with Russia, Washington continues to import uranium hexafluoride, a critical component for its nuclear power sector. Additionally, palladium, an essential metal for America’s electric vehicle industry, and various Russian fertilizers and chemicals, continue to flow into the U.S. market, underscoring the indispensable nature of such imports to the U.S. economy.
Speaking to the media, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal minced no words: “The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
Jaiswal emphasized that India’s foreign policy decisions, including its economic partnerships, are based on pragmatic calculations and guided by long-term strategic imperatives, not dictated by geopolitical pressures or Western approval.
India’s stance has gained growing support among several countries in the Global South, many of whom view Western sanctions regimes as tools of economic coercion that ignore the developmental needs of emerging economies.
Observers say New Delhi’s assertiveness signals a shift in the global narrative. “India is no longer willing to be lectured while others quietly pursue their interests. This is a mature and necessary recalibration of foreign policy discourse,” said a former ambassador who wished not to be named.
The government’s firm pushback also aligns with its broader geopolitical messaging—India will engage with the world on its terms, and not under duress.
As global fault lines harden in the aftermath of the Ukraine conflict, India’s principled and pragmatic diplomacy is being watched closely, both by critics and allies. But with trade data and strategic clarity on its side, New Delhi appears well-positioned to resist pressure and chart its course.
